POLICE INVESTIGATE HCC ATTEMPTED RAPE

THE BALTIMORE SUN

Police are investigating an attempted rape that occurred Wednesday night in a student parking lot of Howard Community College, when a 23-year-old Columbia woman who was leaving her car was grabbed from behind and forced into a nearby car.

At about 7:30 p.m., a man draggedthe woman into the rear seat of a nearby vehicle, placing clothing over her head, said county police spokesman Sgt. Gary L. Gardner.

The attacker tried to remove the victim's pants and fondled her while repeatedly striking her in the face, Gardner said.

A passerbyin the parking lot noticed the commotion and yelled at the man to leave the victim alone. The attacker ran away.

The female student reported the incident to police when she arrived at her home, but was unable to describe her assailant, Gardner said.

Police are searching for the person who assisted the victim, in hopes of getting a description of the attacker.

WOMAN ACCOSTED IN HARPER'S CHOICE

While loading groceries into her car at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, a 40-year-old Clarksville woman was grabbed from behind and indecently touched in the parking lot of the Harper's Choice Village Center, said county police spokesman Gary L. Gardner.

The suspect, a teen-ager about 5 feet, 2 inches tall, also made lewd comments to the victim, Gardner said.

The victim screamed and kicked her attacker, who weighed approximately 150 pounds and was wearing a gray jacket and black pants. He then ran away.

* A compilation of some of the crimes reported to Howard County police and state police:

Columbia

6200 block Hidden Clearing, Sewell's Orchard: Feb. 7, a burglar forced open a window and stole jewelry and electronic equipment from a residence sometime between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Route 175 and Snowden River Pkwy: Feb. 7, a 1985 Mitsubishi Galant automobile was reported stolen from a park-and-ride sometime before 5 p.m.